The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 521 - 273 It’s not the best of times, it’s not the worst of times_3

"You also know, if a person is born into a poor family in London, especially a mischievous boy, that as soon as he learns to walk, he already has one foot stepping onto the wrong path. I did things like stealing iron and toys when I was a child, and once, I was caught stealing by my father."

He called me over with a serious look and said, ’Michael, although we are poor, we want no part in unclean deeds. We have hands, feet, and a heart that’s upright and hardworking. You can’t go on like this, I don’t expect you to become a gentleman riding in carriages, but I do hope you become a man of integrity and strength. Michael, my dear son, do you know? Your mother and I are really worried about you. We fear that one day we’ll see our son hanging on Tyburn’s gallows. Promise me you won’t continue down this path, will you? If you want toys, daddy can buy them for you.’

After saying this, my father embraced my head and began to weep uncontrollably. I also cried, and it was very heart-wrenching. I told my father that from then on, I would never do those things again, and I swore to be an upright person. From that day onwards, whenever I did anything, I always asked myself first if I could live up to my conscience and if I could face my parents."

I didn’t ask my father for toys, but instead for a book. He kept his promise, and the next day he bought me a book, spending a whole one and a half shillings on it."

I remember that book was found in an old bookstore, a science magazine with peeling cover. Although the magazine was old, I was completely mesmerized by it; it was that book that showed me there were so many marvelous things in the world."

Not long after, I voluntarily took a job as a delivery boy at George Ray’s bookstore, without pay, purely voluntarily. Because Mr. Ray was a regular customer of my father’s and took great care of his business, I also wanted to give back. Mr. Ray valued my work, he not only allowed me to read the materials in the shop for free but also promoted me to an unpaid apprentice."

I worked at Ray’s bookstore for seven years, and in those seven years, I had read almost all the books in the store. ’Improvement of the Mind’ by Isaac Watts taught me how to redeem myself, and ’Conversations on Chemistry’ by Mrs. Marcet was my indispensable bedtime reading every day."

After my apprenticeship ended, I was at a loss as to what to do. It was then that I met Sir David. I attended many of his lectures and took as many as three hundred pages of notes. And when I approached him with questions I couldn’t understand, he was always friendly in giving me feedback."

Back then I was just an unknown young lad, yet Sir David treated me with the patience of an instructor. So, when I heard that Sir David had unfortunately suffered from damaged eyesight and needed an assistant urgently, I didn’t hesitate to apply. Sir David didn’t reject me for only having an elementary school education; he recommended me to the Royal Society without reservation, and I officially became a chemical assistant at the Royal Society."

After that, I traveled Europe with him, absorbing knowledge like a sponge, and his teaching was utterly unreserved. Although there were some unpleasantness along the way, Sir David’s wife didn’t like me, treating me like a servant, not allowing me to ride in carriages, not allowing me to dine at the same table, but what of that? To be able to learn by Sir David’s side was already a great fortune for me."

It was through Sir David that I was able to enter the Royal Society, where I met many of Europe’s renowned scientists and came to understand the forefront of world research. I am very grateful for the opportunity he gave me to constantly embrace the science I love. As a teacher, Sir David had done all he could. I don’t harbor any resentment toward him, no matter what he did, I continue to respect and adore him as always."

When Sir David did that thing, I really suffered greatly. I said to my wife, ’Dear Sarah, I am in such a sorry state, I’m nearly going mad.’

But my wife just gently embraced me, kissing my forehead, and said, ’I’d rather have you hurt like a child for being naive than become a petty person who is always on the guard because of being hurt.’

It was this sentence that reminded me of the promise I made many years ago to my father, that as long as my actions accorded with my conscience, that’s all that mattered. I am thankful for everyone who has helped me, and I am willing to devote my insignificant life to repaying their kindness, to live up to my conscience."

From then on, I gradually cleared up my mind and got out of the mental trap. The sun is still as bright, and science is still so wonderful. Two months later, when I demonstrated the rotation of a wire under the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field, the one who gave me the loudest applause in the meeting room was that very person I was rumored to have plagiarized—Professor Oersted. The rumors were self-refuting, and I believe, this was God’s best reward for the act of my conscience."

Upon hearing these words, Arthur couldn’t help but take a deep breath and nodded, ’Mr. Faraday, now I can understand you. You have so many supporters, and indeed it is not without reason. Your nobility doesn’t come from any research achievements or honors, but from your sincere heart. To my shame, I can’t even forgive Sir Bertrand who shot me. And you, if you can forgive such actions of Sir David, what can you not forgive?’"